Alaska Airlines, United Cancel More Than 300 Flights After Boeing Grounded 737 Max 9…

by Daniella Genovese at Fox News

Alaska Airlines and United Airlines canceled hundreds of flights on Monday due to the temporary grounding of some Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered the grounding after a 737 Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines lost a door plug panel mid-flight on Friday. The aircraft, bound for Ontario, California, returned safely to Portland, Oregon. No serious injuries were reported in the incident, and no passengers were in the seats closest to the blown-out door plug.

Alaska Airlines, which operates 65 737 Max 9 aircraft, canceled 20% of its schedule, or 141 flights, as of 1 p.m. ET Monday, according to flight tracking site FlightAware.

United told FOX Business that the carrier, which has 79 Boeing 737 Max 9s in its fleet, expects to cancel about 200 flights Monday because of the grounding.

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United has been using other aircraft types to curtail some cancelations when possible.

“We’re continuing to work with the FAA to clarify…